THE NHS is calling for more living kidney donations in Bolton after a worrying decline.

Bosses from NHS Blood and Transport are warning of a shocking decrease in donations across the town and Greater Manchester with figures falling by 29 per cent in the region since 2013.

Data released for World Kidney Day which takes place today also showed that 222 people are waiting for a kidney at Manchester hospitals, and 115 patients have died on the transplant waiting list in the past five years.

Lisa Burnapp, NHS Blood and Transplant Lead Nurse for Kidney Donation, said: “Many lives could have been saved through increased living kidney donation.

“Living donation has been a major success story for the UK, with one in three patients receiving a kidney transplant from a living donor, so the decline in Manchester and around the UK is worrying."

Transplantation is usually the best treatment for end stage kidney disease, compared with dialysis, with live kidney transplants offering people the best chance.

Most donations occur between family and friends, but people can also donate altruistically, matching their kidney to an anonymous person on a waiting list.

Organ donations are matched by blood group and tissue type meaning people from the same ethnic background are more likely to match.

However, this means the decline is especially concerning for black and Asian patients as these groups are less likely to agree to deceased organ donation, or donate anonymously, meaning they are disproportionately reliant on living donations from family.

Ms Burnapp said: “Anonymous altruistic donations are especially important because they can start transplant chains.

"It’s no coincidence that the high figures for 2013 came when altruistic donation was at its highest ever level.”

Another NHS-supported scheme is also hoping to take the fight to kidney disease this World Kidney Day by making it easier for people in Bolton to take part in vital health research.

Help BEAT encourages people living with a kidney condition to register to hear about local research taking place and explains how to get involved.

To find out more and sign-up visit www.researchforthefuture.org or text research and your name to 81400, or call 0161 2063636.